Tech joined the ACC in 2004 and subsequently reaped competitive and financial windfalls unimaginable during its Big East days. So at every stage of the recent realignment craze, the school, from President Charles Steger’s office to athletic director Weaver, has dismissed any chatter of the Hokies joining the conference that has produced the last six football national champions.

That hasn’t changed, even with ACC charter member Maryland’s move Monday to the Big Ten. The only way Tech leaves the league is if mass defections occur.

So back to Weaver and Roth, the voice of the Hokies for 25 years. On Tuesday’s “Tech Talk Live” show, Roth asked Weaver about the possibility of the SEC copying the Big Ten and starting its own cable network.

Roth: “(Commissioner) Mike Slive and the SEC say they want to start their own network. If they follow the Big Ten model, if they follow the Big Ten model and want to get East Coast schools, do you anticipate Virginia Tech being contacted for that league?”

Weaver: “Wow, that’s a hard one. I really haven’t thought about it because the discussion has just come about obviously in the last two or three days (since Maryland’s announcement). I’m going to have to defer my answer on that if I can because I really haven’t given it any thought. I think there could potentially be some interest, but I don’t know how much, if any.”

Now it seems clear that Weaver was referring to possible SEC interest in the Hokies, not the school's in the SEC. That’s certainly how Roth heard it.

Weaver’s comment is hardly breaking news. Were the SEC to consider further expansion — Missouri and Texas A&M joined this year — Tech, its loyal fans and Virginia’s TV markets would be among several attractive candidates.